DUBAI MUNICIPALITY

‫ﺒﻠﺩﻴﺔ ﺩﺒﻲ‬
ENVIRONMENT DEPARTMENT ‫ﺇﺩﺍﺭﺓ ﺍﻟﺒﻴــــﺌﺔ‬

‫ﻧﺸﺮة ﻣﻌﻠﻮﻣﺎت‬ ‫ﻗﺴﻢ ﺣﻤﺎﻳﺔ اﻟﺒﻴﺌﺔ و‬

ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION &
SAFETY SECTION
Information Bulletin ‫اﻟﺴﻼﻡﺔ‬

ENVIRONMENTAL STANDARDS AND ALLOWABLE LIMITS OF POLLUTANTS

ON LAND, WATER, AND AIR ENVIRONMENT
May 2003

INTRODUCTION

Environmental Standards are set as measures of a segment of environment against

waste discharges and pollution. They also serve as benchmark to which the environment
is protected and in maintaining the best quality of air, water and land for the beneficial use
of man at present as well as for future generations.

Wastes and pollution are the undesirable results of man’s quest for convenience. Man
produces goods such as clothes, cars, electronic appliances, chemicals, medicine, food,
and even potable water for his own use and convenience. Once used, these goods are
discarded and turned out into wastes. Wastes are also produced during the manufacture
of these goods, during the extraction of fuel, and in conversion of fuel into usable form of
energy. Wastes, therefore, are being generated in all stages of man’s activity - wastes
that cause pollution and gradually destroying our environment.

The effect of pollution could be temporary, severe or permanent depending on the

concentration of pollutant present in the waste stream and on the assimilative capability
of the receiving segment of environment. Each segment of environment, such as the
Dubai Creek, any plot of land, workplaces inside manufacturing premises, or even the air
in an enclosed commercial building has its distinct features different from the other. Each
requires different degree of control or set of environmental standards.

Protection of environment requires legislative tools – legislation that defines the basis as
well as the requisites of a healthy environment. The Dubai Municipality has issued the
key legislation in the Local Order on the Environment Protection Regulations in the
Emirate of Dubai. The Local Order prescribes not only the basics of environmental
protection but it also empowers the competent department, i.e., Environment Department
to further issue environmental standards and relevant guidelines for implementation.

This Bulletin features quick reference of the various environmental standards issued by
the Environment Protection and Safety Section (EPSS) of the Environment Department.
Tables 1 through 5 indicate the allowable and objective values with supplementary notes
below each. All concerned parties, agencies and establishments operating in Dubai are
required to comply with these environmental standards.

Within the context of and for the purpose of this Bulletin, the following words and phrases
shall bear the meanings given opposite each unless specifically stated otherwise. These
definitions shall not be interpreted for use in other issues or forum without consultation
and consent from Environment Protection and Safety Section (EPSS)

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DEFINITIONS

Assimilative The ability of a segment of environment to absorb and neutralize wastes

Capability without impairing the quality of the environment or harming any life forms,
inflict damaged to property, or reducing the beneficial use of that segment of
environment.

Emission Means any gaseous, smoke, fumes, mist, heat, noise, particulate or airborne
dust being released into the air environment.

Environment The living ecosystem of the Emirate. It encompasses all of the external
conditions and influences affecting the life, development and the survival of
any lifeform. With respect to man, environment covers all the things around
him including land, air, water, plants, animals or substances in the natural
system, and all form of energy, as well as, the things or structures that man
introduced around him such as buildings, roadways, means of transportations,
machines and all form of technology.

Environment, Is that portion of environment with or without fixed and contagious boundary
Segment of such as, the air inside a building or manufacturing premises, a plot of land, a
water body such as a river or creek, or the fenced environment around an
industrial plant or commercial premises that has distinct features from the
general environment outside of it.

Environmental Within the context of this document and pursuant to Local Order on the
Standards Environment Protection Regulations in the Emirate of Dubai, are the specified
values of environment quality indicators or allowable limit of pollutants in the
waste stream when discharge into a segment of environment, beyond which, it
can cause pollution and impair the quality of the environment.

Pollutant Any substance, matter or energy that impairs the quality of a segment of
environment or that makes other substance or product undesirable.

Pollution The presence of pollutant in a segment of environment at sufficient quantity or

in excess of the specified environmental standards and which, over time, can
cause undesirable effect on man, animals, vegetation or property. It is the state
of environment being unsafe and its beneficial use has been compromised.

Sludge The residual solids generated from treatment of wastewater. Generally it is

considered a hazardous waste unless proven otherwise. It may include semi-
solid residues that collect at the bottom of storage tanks or reservoir.

Waste Any solid, liquid or gaseous matter being discharged into the environment as
an excess material having no direct beneficial use to man and environment. It
includes any product that is over its useful life and unwanted.

Hazardous Any waste that exhibits one or more hazardous characteristics, such as being
Waste corrosive, flammable, oxidizing, poisonous, radioactive or ecotoxic.

Wastewater All spent water discharged from any activity of man or industrial process. For
the purpose of this document it is further classified into 2 types namely; a)
domestic wastewater, and b) trade wastewater.

Domestic All water-borne human wastes, also called sewage, arising from residential
wastewater premises as well as from, industrial, commercial and institutional buildings.

Trade Any wastewater generated and discharged from industrial operations or

wastewater commercial activities.

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ENVIRONMENTAL STANDARDS

Table 1 – Dubai Wastewater Discharge Limits

*Maximum Allowable Limits for Discharge to
INDICATORS Sewerage Land as for Irrigation
Physico-Chemical Units System Drip Spray
Biochemical Oxygen Demand mg/l 1,000 20 10
Chemical Oxygen Demand mg/l 3,000 100 50
Chlorides mg/l 500 350
Chlorine – residual mg/l 10 Not less than 0.5 mg/l after
30 min contact time
Cyanides as CN mg/l 1 0.05 0.05
Detergents mg/l 30
Fluorides mg/l 1 1
Nitrogen, ammoniacal mg/l 40 5 1
Nitrogen, organic (Kjeldhal) mg/l 10 5
Nitrogen, total mg/l 50 30
Oil & Grease – Emulsified mg/l 150
Oil & Grease – Free oil mg/l 50 5 5
pH (range) units 6 – 10 6.0 – 8.0 6.0 – 8.0
Pesticides, non-chlorinated mg/l 5
Phenols mg/l 50 0.1 0.1
Phosphorous (P) mg/l 30 20 20
Sulfates, total mg/l 500 200 200
Sulfides as S mg/l 10 0.05 0.05
Surfactants mg/l
Suspended Solids (SS) mg/l 500 50 10
0
Temperature C 45 or > 5 of ambient
Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) mg/l 3,000 1,500 1,000
Metals
Total Metals mg/l 10
Aluminum (Al) mg/l 2 2
Arsenic (As) mg/l 0.50 0.05 0.05
Barium (Ba) mg/l 1 1
Beryllium (Be) mg/l 0.1 0.1
Boron (B) mg/l 2.0 2.0 2.0
Cadmium (Cd) mg/l 0.3 0.01 0.01
Chromium (Cr) mg/l 1.0 0.1 0.1
Cobalt mg/l 0.1 0.1
Copper (Cu) mg/l 1.0 0.2 0.2
Iron (Fe) mg/l 2.0 2.0
Lead (Pb) mg/l 1.0 0.5 0.5
Magnesium (mg) mg/l 100 100
Manganese (Mn) mg/l 1.0 0.2 0.2
Mercury (Hg) mg/l 0.01 0.001 0.001
Molybdenum (Mo) mg/l 0.01 0.01
Nickel (Ni) mg/l 1.0 0.2 0.2
Selenium (Se) mg/l 0.02 0.02
Silver (Ag) mg/l 1.0
Sodium (Na) mg/l 500 200
Zinc (Zn) mg/l 2.0 0.5 0.2
Bacteriological
Fecal Coliforms MPN/100 ml. 500 20
* Discharge limits to marine environment will be determined on case basis and through a
mathematical modeling study. Based on the result of the modeling study, the EPSS would
issue Disposal Permit specifying the allowable limits which, in no case, shall compromise
the Marine Water Quality Objectives as given in Table 2.
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Table 2 - Marine Water Quality Objectives

INDICATORS
Physico-Chemical Sea and Coastal Zone Dubai Creek
BOD5 20 mg/l 10 mg/l
Chlorine, total residual 0.01 mg/l 0.01 mg/l
Dissolved Oxygen Not less than 5 mg/l or 90% Not less than 5 mg/l or 90%
saturation saturation
Nitrogen -ammonia (NH3-N) 0.1 mg/l 0.1 mg/l
Nitrogen – nitrate 0.5 mg/l 0.5 mg/l
Nitrogen- total 2.0 mg/l 2.0 mg/l
Petroleum hydrocarbons 0.001 mg/l ( aromatic fraction ) 0.001 mg/l ( aromatic fraction )
pH 1 pH unit from ambient level 1 pH unit from ambient level
Phosphate-Phosphorus 0.05mg/l 0.05mg/l
Temperature 2 0C from background level 2 0C from background level
Total Dissolved Solids 2% from background levels 2% from background levels
Turbidity/Color 75 NTU or none that will reduce 75 NTU or none that will reduce
light penetration by more than light penetration by more than
20% from background levels. 20% from background levels.
Surfactants 0.02 mg/l 0.02 mg/l
Suspended Solids 10 mg/l mean 10 mg/l mean
25 mg/l maximum 15 mg/l max.
Trace Metals
Aluminium 0.2 mg/l 0.2 mg/l
Arsenic 0.01 mg/l 0.01 mg/l
Cadmium 0.003 mg/l 0.003 mg/l
Chromium 0.01 mg/l 0.01 mg/l
Copper 0.005 mg/l 0.005 mg/l
Iron 0.2 mg/l 0.2 mg/l
Mercury 0.001 mg/l 0.001 mg/l
Zinc 0.02 mg/l 0.02 mg/l
Bacteriological
Bacteria (E. Coli) 200 Organisms per 100 ml water 200 Organisms/100 ml water

i) The following are prohibited for discharge into the water environment of Dubai:
• Pesticides and herbicides.
• Oil and/or solvent waste.
• Radioactive waste.
• Residues from the removal of TBT anti-fouling paints.
ii) Any person, commercial establishment or industrial facility discharging waste into the
water environment must obtain Permit from EPSS. The Permit would specify the
maximum allowable concentrations of substance/pollutant in the waste stream, and taking
into consideration of the source, the discharged waste shall not lead to:
• Visible floating particulates, grease or oil.
• Aesthetically undesirable discoloration in the receiving waters.
• Visible residual effects in water or on beaches, rocks or onsite structures.
• Objectionable odors emanating from receiving waters at point of disposal.
• Alteration of the natural taste, odor, color and overall quality of marine resources
used for human consumption.
• Objectionable aquatic growth, which degrades indigenous biota.
• Alteration of organic matter in adjacent sediments, which may lead to the
degradation of benthic marine life.
iii) All discharge point to the water environment must be located 1 meter below the lowest
low water level and all discharges must be equipped with a sampling point to provide an
access for taking representative samples of the waste being discharged.
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Table 3 – Limits of Trace Metals in Sludge Intended for Disposal on Land*

Parameters Maximum Limits 10 year cumulative loading on land

(mg/kg) (kg/hectare)
Cadmium 30 20
Chromium 1,000 200
Cobalt 100 30
Copper 1,000 50
Lead 1,000 125
Mercury 10 5
Molybdenum 20 5
Nickel 200 100
Zinc 1,000 250

N.B.
* Where disposal is for the purpose of soil conditioning as in the use of compost or
fertilizer for agricultural activity. In any case, disposal to land must have prior written
approval from EPSS.

Table 4 – Land Contamination Indicator Levels

Indicator **Concentration (mg/kg)

Arsenic 50
Barium 400
Cadmium 5
Chromium 250
Copper 100
Lead 200
Manganese 700
Mercury 2
Selenium 2
Zinc 500
Pesticides (total) 2
Cyanide 10
Fluoride 500
Phenol 1
Benzene 1
BTEX (total) 100
Chlorinated Hydrocarbons 1
Polychlorinated Biphenyls 0.5
Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons
< C9 1,000
> C9 10,000

N.B.
** Depending on the source, location and intended land use, the EPSS may specify
stringent level where the health of expected receptors will be at risk or to maintain the
background quality of the site.

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 Table 5 – Allowable Emission Limits From Stationary Sources

Waste Sources to which Emission limits* Notes

limit is applicable
Visible emissions Combustion sources Ringlemann 1 or 1. Does not apply to
20% opacity emissions of water
vapor and a
reasonable period for
cold startup,
shutdown or
emergency operation
Other sources No visible
emissions 1. as above

Total Particulate All combustion sources 0.25 g/Nm3 Gas Volumes

Matter calculated to
12% CO2
Large sources 0.1 g/Nm3
Sulfuric acid mist All sources 0.1 g/Nm3 as
and sulfur trioxide SO3
Sulfur dioxide All fuel burning sources 0.50 g/Nm3
Hydrogen sulfide All sources 5 mg/Nm3
Oxides of Nitrogen Fuel burning units 0.35 g/Nm3 for @ 7% O2 reference
having a gross heat gaseous fuels
input above 100,000
MJ, excluding glass 0.5 g/Nm3 for
furnaces liquid fuels

Gas turbines for power 0.07 g/Nm3 for Not applicable to

generation gaseous fuels small units less than
30MW and @ 15 %
Power generation by 0.15 g/Nm3 O2 Reference
other fuels
Carbon Monoxide All Stationary sources 1.5 g/Nm3
Lead and its All stationary sources 10 mg/Nm3
compounds as Pb
Fluorine Aluminum smelters 0.02 g/Nm3
compounds
All other sources 0.05 g/Nm3
Chlorine & Chlorine All stationary sources 0.2g/Nm3
compounds as Cl2
Metal fumes in total All stationary sources 10mg/Nm3 Excluding iron oxide
fume
Iron Oxide fume Iron and steel 0.1 g/Nm3
foundries.

N.B.
* As may be required by EPSS, all Proponents and/or Owners of emission sources are
required to carry out air quality mathematical modeling study. The scope of study varies
according to source and on case basis. Based on the result of the modeling study, EPSS
then will specify the allowable emission limits of the source being studied.

Further information on environmental matters is available at EPSS office on phone no:

(+9714) 2064244, or fax no: 2270160 or through email address: rhsalman@dm.gov.ae

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